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Following in the footsteps of the Acts of the
Apostles, written by St. Luke, Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry
exists by the grace of God to further the first century Apostolic tradition
serving in the Great Commission. |
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The Cry of the Human Spirit Part Two
Part 2
When the time came for President Bush to begin his speech, I recall, I was driving in heavy traffic. I pulled into a shopping center parking lot. I parked and sat quietly in my compact car listening to the radio for the speech to begin. This State Of The Union Speech was the first presidential speech that I have listened to for several years. After the speech I was left with five words that continue to this day, resonating within my spirit, "make no mistake about it…" So when the most power man in the free world says, "make no mistake about it…" it makes an impression, people listen. When the Lord Jesus, "who upholds all things by the word of his power,who upholds all things by the word of his power," (Hebrews 1:3,) speaks, we must pay attention. “Most Assuredly I say to you …I am the door of the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I lay my life down for the sheep I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.” St. John,10 Just for a moment sense the power behind who is talking and the context of these events. Is he just another Jewish teacher looking for a following? Like Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nothing. Or Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. The Acts Of The Apostles, 5:36-37 “Is this not Joseph’s son, the carpenter of Nazareth?” St. Luke 4:22 or is He unique? “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17 It is this same Jesus who upholds all things by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3. “For he created all things, by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17 He upholds all things by the word of his power. This is He who prior to his incarnation David calls his Shepherd, “Shepherd of Israel, Thou who art enthroned above the cherubim.” Psalm 80:1-19 This is He, whom Job speaks, “For I know [that] my redeemer lives, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.” Recently I discovered a truth from a Franciscan brother of the Order of Friars Minor Brother Lee, who shared with me that it was in fact St. Francis of Assisi who was responsible for helping us visualize this great mystery, the mystery that St. Augustine of Hippo states that Jesus Christ is True God and True Man. Francis by the simple act of placing a model of an Infant in a manger at Christmas began a tradition that has survived to this day. I wonder if Francis thought about all the controversy that would be stirred up in the twenty first century in the land of the free and the home of the brave, from his one act of placing a figure of the baby Jesus in the original manger that he made. What resistance is argued in city council meetings around the nation, he subject, whether the nativity scene is appropriate to have on the United States of America’s government property and by having a model of a manager, is it a violation of the separation of the Church and the State? Little baby Jesus! It seems Lord there still may be no room for you in the inn. Is there room for me at the cross? “Most Assuredly I say to you …” “I am the door of the sheep.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I lay my life down for the sheep.” “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.” One of the lesson texts from the Prophet Isaiah 25:1 O Lord, Thou [art] my God; I will exalt Thee; I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful [things; Thy] counsels of old [are] faithfulness [and] truth. Selah “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” St. John 17:3 Picture Jesus in the synagogue praying, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” The One God Father Son and Holy Spirit No human being has ever seen or can see god (I Timothy 6:16). Apart from the doctrine of the Trinity and the person and work of the lord Jesus Christ, the Christian understanding of god cannot be fully expressed and explained. God as revealed through the lord Jesus Christ can be found in John 1:6-12,14 Hebrews 1:1-3 In Jesus Christ the Word Of God is made flesh and all of the saving attributes of Yahweh in the Hebrew Scriptures are actualized. 1. God pardons through Christ (Ephesians 4:32) 2. God reconciles the world through Christ (2 Corinthians. 5:19) 3. God gives the spirit through the son (St. John 15:26, 16:17) 4. Believers belong to Messiah who belongs to God (1Corinthians 3:23) The God Of Abraham, Isaac And Jacob is a God that is ... Faithful Forgiving Kind Loving Merciful Patient The God Of Abraham, Isaac And Jacob is a God of ... Comfort Hope Peace Salvation “Our God shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11 This is the Good Shepherd King David knows. I speak so because our God is the God of the living. We are all in this flock together we are all on this journey together. We believers are all lambs of the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd. This is definitely something to rejoice in and mull over during this upcoming week. How can you resist him whom your soul loveth? Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power Not one of them is missing. “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they, which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God.” “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself. And he [was] clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Selah Today, it is the Lord Christ who sits at the right hand of the power of God, “The Shepherd of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim.” Psalm 80:1-19 Just as President Bush has said, "make no mistake about it," to get the world's attention and to comfort his flock, we the citizens of the United States, our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd says to his flock, we the members of His Body, “Most Assuredly I say to you …” “I am the door of the sheep.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I lay my life down for the sheep.” “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.” While these words, "Most Assuredly I say to you" … are slightly different from those of President Bush, The Lord Jesus Christ is wanting us, his flock, to be comforted, awaken from our slumber and follow Him. “Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever.” In the name of God, Father, Son And Holy Spirit Amen. Amen. Amen. |
Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry